Five Tips to Look Like You Know What You’re Doing on Ice Skates

The Olympics are coming on February 7, which means we'll very soon be riveted by jumps and spins from the darlings of the figure skating world, or as they call 'em, axels and loops and the like. And who could blame us for being totally inspired after the National Championships back a few weeks ago in Boston, where Gracie Gold took home the -- you guessed it -- gold medal?

While we'd like to believe we were as skilled as Gold, we're nowhere close. So we asked former American figure skating champion and coach, Jojo Starbuck, to give us the five things you need know to, well, not look stupid on skates. (Oh, BTW? If you're a New Yorker or visiting the city now through April, sign up for a lesson at The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, the class is $65, which includes breakfast and rentals, and you can't beat the backdrop.)

Tie those skate laces tight: Start pulling them snug beginning at the toes, and work your way up. This will help stabilize your whole foot, and especially your ankles, to keep you more balanced on the ice. Double-knot ‘em at the top, and tuck the leftover laces in. The last thing you want is an undone-lace debacle on the ice.

Avoid a wardrobe malfunction: OK, you’ve got the skates on. Now, when you walk toward the rink, avoid all cement or metal surfaces. They’ll destroy your blades and their edges, and if your blades are dull, when you take a curve, your skates will slip out.

Get into “skater stance”: Step onto the ice and just stand there for a tick; sink into your ankles, knees and hips. You want to stay loose, just like this. The most common reason newbies wipe out is because they get nervous, lock up their joints, and can’t catch their balance if they waver too far forward or backward.

Take baby steps: No, like, literally. It should look as if you’re doing a tiny forward march, changing weight from one foot to the other slowly. As you get more confident, try pushing into your toes to glide forward a few inches, and gradually make that motion longer, larger and more fluid. Look at you. You’re skating!

“Crap! I’m about to fall!”: Pull your hips back and put your hands in front of your shoulders, ready to catch your bodyweight if you go down. But you totally righted yourself, didn’t you? You pro.